Staff Report

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man is facing multiple charges after allegedly molesting a child for six years.

James E. England III

James Elmer England III, 29, 503 Meadow View Drive, Syracuse, is charged with four counts of child molesting – two of the counts are level 1 felonies, the other two counts are level 4 felonies; one count of intimidation, a level 6 felony; and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a level 6 felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, in October 2020, the victim disclosed to a relative that England had been touching the victim inappropriately and showing the victim pornographic videos on his cellphone. 

The relative then spoke with a school resource officer, who initiated the investigation. 

On or around Nov. 11, 2020, the victim, at the age of 11, participated in a Child and Family Advocacy Center forensic interview. The victim confirmed they understood the difference between the truth and a lie and agreed to only discuss things that were true. 

During the interview, the child disclosed that England had been touching the victim for “years” and that it had been happening since the victim was 6 years old. 

The child also said England would show the victim videos on his phone of sexual acts and told the victim not to tell anyone about the videos.

Information in the affidavit reflects that, according to police reports filed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, on and between June 2014 and July 2020, England, who was between the ages of 21 and 27 years old, engaged in sexual activity with the victim, who was between the ages of 4 and 10 years old at that time.

In November 2020, the victim participated in a sexual assault examination at St. Joe Regional Medical Center with a sexual assault nurse examiner. The victim described details of sexual assault that had occurred. 

An expanded forensic interview was conducted between the victim and a representative of the Child and Family Advocacy Center that same month in which the victim said the victim had been very afraid to talk about everything during the initial interview but was ready to talk now.

The chid described a time when they were 8 years old and was sexually assaulted by England. The victim said England was asked to stop but England didn’t listen and told the victim to be quiet.

The child described other incidents of sexual assaults that occurred over a period of time.

According to the victim, England also told the victim that if he went to jail he would “beat the living heck out of you. I’ll kill your family.”

England was booked at the Elkhart County Corrections Facility on Dec. 8 on a $326,000 bond.